Police officers injured after taking part in new fitness tests

A POLICE officer seriously injured his leg when he slipped on a pool of sweat while carrying out the Home Office's new fitness test.

The fitness test for police were recommended by HM's Chief Inspector of Constabulary [GETTY]

He was trying to achieve a level that not even the firearms officers have to achieve.

The Police Federation's Neil Bowles

The inspector in the South Yorkshire Police force has been told he may not be able to run again after badly damaging his Achilles tendon during the 'bleep test'.

Another officer also suffered an injury, as a result of "possibly pushing himself too hard" and trying to get a score higher than "firearms officers".

The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, says both were keen runners and South Yorkshire branch chairman Neil Bowles said: "They are two very fit officers. One was a health and safety issue about the wetness of the floor. Sweat gathered on the floor and he fell on the wet surface.

"The second one was possibly pushing himself too hard because he had gone way above the level required for that test. He was trying to achieve a level that not even the firearms officers have to achieve".

Police have to perform the tests involving 15-metre shuttle runs to measure their endurance after a recommendation by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Tom Winsor, earlier this year.

Home Secretary Theresa May has agreed to an amnesty for those who fail the test in the first year

The 'bleep test' exercises, which involve officers having to run back and forth at increasing speeds, were introduced by most forces last month but were in place in South Yorkshire on a voluntary basis from March.

The force said the injuries happened in tests carried out between March and July and both officers "had achieved the required standard and were attempting to achieve a higher score".

Last month it emerged that the police chief who helped catch the Suffolk Strangler had become the first Chief Constable to fail to meet the new police fitness targets.

Jacqui Cheer, boss of the Cleveland force, was unable to meet the pass mark of 5:4, which requires an officer to complete 35 shuttles over a total distance of 525 metres, in approximately three minutes and thirty seconds.

Mrs Cheer is believed to be the highest-ranking officer to fail the bleep test after only reaching level 4:2 while trying to set an example to her staff during a "familiarisation" exercise.

Home Secretary Theresa May has agreed that in the first year of the scheme there should be no sanction applied to officers who fail the annual test or who are unable to take it because of a medical reason.

But from 2014, those who do not pass three times will be subject to disciplinary procedures to improve their performance. There is no obstacle course or upper strength testing involved.

A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police said the fitness test was introduced early "to dispel myths and reassure staff as to what was exactly required".

She said no officers have been injured since September and that chief constable David Crompton had passed the test twice.